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I'm Daveid Nazar.

Finally some good news for the thousands of residents of East Los Angeles who have been plagued with lead contamination, lead poisoning in their homes over the last ten years.

This is a story we've been following and investigating a crisis at all began about a decade ago.

The largest lead contamination case in U.S. history.

The victims found themselves living in what they term a poison zone from a now shut down battery recycling plant.

The former plant is located about five miles from downtown Los Angeles, where there are over 10,000 affected homes.

Now, after all these years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is stepping in.

The EPA is possibly going to add this to the super Fund National Priorities List, or NPL, as it's known.

The NPL is a list of sites throughout the United States with the worst toxic disasters, where historic amounts of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants pose a significant threat to human health and to the environment.

So what is now finally going to happen?

What is finally going to change for all the communities?

All the residents have been affected from the lead contamination.

And joining me now to discuss all of this is Chip Paul in LA.

Chip is the assistant director of the EPA's Superfund and Emergency Management Division.

Chip represents EPA region nine, the Pacific Southwest, which includes Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and California.

And also with us is Teri Cano.

Teri has lived in the East LA neighborhood of Boyle Heights her entire life.

Her Boyle Heights home is just a couple of minutes from the former battery recycling plant.

Thank you both so much for being here.

We have a lot to discuss.

Chip, let's begin with you.

So currently your EPA is working very diligently, I should say, to get this former Exide battery plant.

It's located in Vernon.

That's a neighborhood in East L.A. identified as a Superfund site.

Can you talk about what's involved with all of this?

Take us through that chip.

Yes.

In July of 22, the state of California asked us EPA to evaluate the former Exide facility to be added to the list or the National Priorities List.

And, what happened after that was we did a preliminary assessment, which is a bench top evaluation.

We look at existing data, we evaluate the site.

Can it move on to the next stage.

And based on that benchtop evaluation we did we performed next what was called a site inspection, which involved collecting groundwater samples, soil samples to make sure it does meet the criteria to be considered to be added to the NPL list.

So it did involve in analyzing soil data.

Looking at soil concentrations, we looked at lead contamination.

We looked at TCE, contamination.

And based on that, we issued a site inspection report which came out, earlier this year, as well as we proposed Exide to be added to the NPL, in on September 5th of 2024.

This has been, as you know, such an ongoing saga, so elaborate a bit more exactly how did EPA evaluate this site?

Because, in other words, as I mentioned earlier in the broadcast, obviously to be a Superfund site, you have to be really the most toxic, most contaminated area of the U.S. to qualify.

And the lead contamination from the former Exide battery recycling plant is horrendous.

You know that.

The neighbors know that.

What did your investigation produce?

So we we did.

We looked at the soil contamination.

We and yes, the facility does have extensive contamination from a lead perspective.

It also has VOCs or volatile organic contamination.

So we looked at soil concentrations.

Although from a soils perspective, because we look at risk and receptors which are residents around the community, we we couldn't score it based on, the lead, the soil pathway.

But we were able to score it based on a known release of TCE at the facility, which, which has impacted groundwater and has the potential to impact groundwater down gradient, which has, source wells, you know, which is drinking water wells.

So based on the potential of impact from TCE, from groundwater, we were able to qualify the site for a proposed listing.

And if you take over this massive project, how is a federal a federal toxic cleanup going to differ from, let's say, the state clean up?

Obviously, DC, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, they've been monitoring overseeing all of this for the last several years.

Now, this is possibly on you.

And also, for the record, for our viewers.

I did invite DXC to be part of the interview.

They declined my request for an interview.

So explain the difference with EPA at the helm versus the state.

What's the difference between the two state agencies?

Well, you know, CC has ongoing cleanup right now, as you know, off site and residential areas on site at the facility.

And we have been engaged with DSC through a lot of the process.

We've been we were involved a you know, early on with the closure of the facility, the decon termination and destruction of the many of the operational buildings, as well as, ensuring that whatever available funds were a part of the bankruptcy, the, the Exide bankruptcy went to the site cleanup.

But cleanups, process are similar.

And what I'd like to focus on is what it would look like if the site list and what would happen and, assure people that even though the site has qualified from a TCN or groundwater perspective is we'll start with a remedial investigation where we're look at different compounds, the compounds that were used or released at the facility.

So Lid would be included.

Other metals, other volatile organic contaminants, groundwater, soil.

So just because the site didn't qualify for soils as a part of the site assessment doesn't mean that we won't evaluate it.

We'll look at it.

We'll go into, what the extent of contamination is.

So we're look at the, you know, again, soil, groundwater.

And then we'll go into what's called a feasibility study is how can we clean it up and what are the options of which we would clean it up.

And then that would go into a remedy selection process, which is called a record of decision.

Now before we choose a remedy that goes up to put out to public comment.

And I really want to emphasize that the engagement that the community will have, throughout this process, you know, once the site is listed, if it's listed, we would we do have community involvement plan and it specifies how we will engage the community.

So, you know, again, once a remedy selection, we go into design.

How will that remedy will be designed and implemented.

We implement the remedy and then the remedy becomes effective.

You know, eventually in our process the site will be delisted, which is a good thing.

You know, so it goes back to beneficial patient reuse, which is really the fundamental principles and goals of Superfund is one protect human health from the environment, restore the site to beneficial reuse.

And you know, we can't forget make the polluter pay.

And that is that is our our principles of Superfund.

Terry Cano is still a neighbor to you.

Now, on a more personal level, how many years have you been dealing with this Exide battery recycling plant?

I know it's been a catastrophe.

A disaster for you.

Take us through that.

What your ordeal has been with your context and your perspective.

So we found out about Exide in 2013.

However, as a community and and, as a resident, we've been dealing with the Exide, contamination even before we found out, trouble breathing.

I was in the hospital every couple of months, you know, for asthma attacks and all kinds of other health issues.

Not just me, neighbors.

You know, people were, were extremely ill, more so than what is normal for, we'll say, any particular city block.

We just didn't know why in 2013, we found out about Exide, and it's it's been a struggle from 2013 until now.

Terri, you just said you've been ill for many years.

I've interviewed you before.

Everyone knows that, who is a view of the program, but are you convinced to be fair that you that you're East L.A., your Boyle Heights neighbors have gotten sick specifically from the lead?

Could there be a remote possibility that it was from something else?

And also, what has been going on with your health?

Because I interviewed you, we aired the program back in January of 2024.

So what has happened since then as well?

My health is declining.

It will continue to decline until, I end up passing from any one of my long list of, of, illnesses and diseases or health issues that I have.

From multiple strokes to, early stage cancers.

Spinal degeneration, nerve damage, a certain level of brain damage.

I mean, there's just such a long list and as time goes on, I can do less and less, but, unfortunately, After finally seeing a neurologist, a specialist who had me tested for heavy metals, not blood, because I, I didn't know or we were told that, that the blood test was the best.

We were told by the state health department.

And when they took the blood samples, it didn't really show a true picture.

I had a urine test done, and that's where just a couple of months ago, I tested, very high for, arsenic and cadmium in addition to the lab.

So these are all chemicals from Exide.

And to this day, even though Exide has been shut down, I do live on a property that still has not been clean, even though I've had such, health issues, my property still hasn't been cleaned.

But yet I'm still exposed to to all of these chemicals that were on its list of chemicals.

So, if that doesn't prove anything, I don't know what will.

I didn't know that you have.

Yes.

You have a medical test.

That is devastating.

It's heartbreaking.

Chip, one thing that Terry Cano did mentioned to me in our last interview, and, I'm going to advocate a little bit for Terry.

I hope I'm not being offensive, Terry.

She had been begging, and her so many of her neighbors out there, chip in the Boyle Heights East L.A. area that the lead contamination zone, so to speak, that the area be expanded.

I think right now it's a cleanup impact zone that the state had designated, I want to say, about one and a half mile, a one and a half mile radius of the toxic pollution.

The residents are insisting, begging that the perimeter be increased to somewhat of a four mile radius.

Could that be a possibility for silver chip?

Well, what I what I can say is if the sites listed we, you know, in the remedial investigation stage, that's where we take a look at the compounds, you know, not just lead the other metals, the other the volatile organic compounds.

We start at ground zero.

The facility itself, and then we investigate and we move out until we find the extent of contamination.

So what that investigation will lead.

I can't speak to right now because we just don't know.

But we are not setting a boundary.

When we list a site, we list the site and we determine what's called nature and extent.

So we identify the compounds of concern and go out.

And two, we establish a site boundary.

So we will have to wait and see what that investigation leads.

If the site lists.

Terry some of what Chip is saying, I'm going to be honest, it does sound like positive news.

I've been on this story with you since the beginning.

You've been through such an ordeal.

Words do not describe it.

With that said, based upon some of what Chip has said, how can this area Terry, becoming a Superfund site, change things for you and your community?

Because as I said, this seems to be the first positive, the first positive that you've had in this horrific ordeal.

Do you agree or do you have concerns?

I have mixed feelings about it.

I on one hand, am hopeful and I guess you can say excited because what we've heard all these years is that not only my home, but other homes in a wider area would not be clean because of of money.

The lack of funds at a, at a state level.

And, because Exide was allowed to walk away and, you know, after filing from bankruptcy, we were not going to get them to pay for it.

So asking it to become a Superfund site is what we asked for.

Basically the year that we found out about it, in 2013, we were asking, we asked DSI and multiple elected officials to.

To get it, asked for it to be a Superfund site.

The only my reservation on it is in in the research on on, it becoming a Superfund site.

We do acknowledge and know that that at a state level, there is public participation where the, They basically have to hear our concerns and, and, you know, they have to not necessarily do what we say because they certainly didn't do that.

But we had a say so in, at a federal level, we will be at the mercy of the EPA to make decisions in our best interest.

Without us having the ability to to disagree or protest any anything that we don't feel is, is in our best interest.

Chip, to be fair to you, I know this is early in the game.

Early in the game.

Do you have an opinion about what Terry is saying, though?

And no, and I, I do acknowledge her concern because it is a very serious, issue of, I mean, EPA acknowledges and recognizes the negative impact that the facilities operation has had, in the surrounding community.

But I think what I can assure is if the site lists and we enter into the Superfund process day one, the community involvement in the game, it will be there.

Like I said previous, as we develop a community outreach program, we assign a community involvement coordinator.

We'll have public meetings.

There will be opportunities for public comment, for remedies selected.

Terry is correct.

Ultimately, EPA will select the remedy, but there is a public comment period before that remedy is selected.

But there's also public engagement and transparency throughout the process, from the remedial investigation to the feasibility study where the the proposed remedies are proposed.

So there will be, extensive community engagement, and involvement.

And Shipp, I've been on this story for years.

As you know, I somewhat feel I'm an expert just on this story.

I'm way below both of your pay grades.

I don't know much about anything, but I do know quite a bit about this story.

Just having a report on it so many times.

I do ask you this, chip.

I believe it was back in 2022.

She had asked you, if I'm not mistaken, to investigate this.

Just out of curiosity, why did an EPA get involved back then?

You know, the residents, to be just very honest with you, kept telling me, well, EPA kind of shirked their responsibility.

They walked away with this clean up.

So what has evolved from there since back in 2022 with your organization?

So even before 2022, EPA has been involved.

We've been involved in the shutdown of the facility.

The we have been involved in the oversight of the decontamination and destruction of the operational buildings at Exide.

We also have been, very engaged in the community.

I participated myself in multiple, community meetings where I describe the Superfund process, the engagement of the listing process.

And, you know, in 2022, when we were asked and we were asked by the state of California to engage, prior to that, the state had taken on the cleanup, both from a residential standpoint as well and the facility, so that I think the state realized that with the shortfall of the settlement, you know, the bankruptcy settlement, they took it on, they secured money.

And that scope became extensive.

And the the shortfall in the resource needed.

The state said it's time to bring in the federal government, which brings additional resources.

And I have to acknowledge the state.

It's not a handoff this we will be co regulators.

The state of California has input and involvement, through the process.

And I also have to say that, that the good thing here is as we go through the listing process, there is still active cleanup going on and investigations.

So, you know, this I see this as a collaborative effort, and we have been engaging with the state through the through 19 or through the 2022 to today.

We we meet regularly with the state.

We will used a lot of their data for the qualifications and understanding the listing, of, of the Exide site.

So there is there is extreme, collaboration and work that going on between the federal government and the state.

So if EPA deems this a Superfund site, yes, it's it's a new ball game because it's your ball game, so to speak, of what you're saying is that the state of California still has active involvement.

Is in this, is that correct?

Yeah.

That is that is correct.

Yes.

And and we work with the state of California and other states hand in hand on Superfund sites.

It's, you know, the state it's their property, you know, and they they are engaged, you know, they work with us.

And again, they'll be doing ongoing cleanup as we we do our investigations.

We we've been engaged in the type of data they're collecting as well.

So it's I see it as a co agency lead for, for many years down the road.

How does that sound to you Terry?

Well, to be honest, we would have been.

And I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for many where we would have been totally fine if DTC was cut out of the picture completely.

Why is that?

And just be honest.

Be uncensored.

Because I, I don't know.

I don't even know which one to start with first.

It could be that, DTC to this day has not acknowledged any health affected individuals.

They've had no plans to to even do so.

In one meeting, we were told that's not our job.

We only deal with the dirt, but yet they are in charge of the cleanup.

We've asked we weren't in agreement with their plan to clean up.

They felt they only needed to clean up the soil outside.

And then wiping down of service, of surfaces inside, leaving the attics, the, central air ducts.

A thorough cleaning of the inside is also what experts that, have said, along with the parkways out in the streets.

Because if we don't clean up the parkways, then you're eventually going to get cross contamination because that dirt is still contaminated.

And with rain or winds, it's going to re contaminate the the houses that did get clean.

So, the lies that they've told us, the, it hasn't been easy with DTC.

So my hope is now that we have, if it does become a Superfund site and we do have them, we can't change the past, the mistakes that have been in the past.

What I'm hoping for is, to work together to get it cleaned efficiently and correctly.

And the longer that it stays contaminated, the more people who are going to get sick.

And this isn't an illness or the these aren't chemicals that you can just take out of your body.

Many experts and doctors have told me there's nothing we can do for you.

I don't want future generations to go through that.

So it's in our best interest to work together and try to get this cleaned up correctly.

Terry.

Well said.

Chip, I have just about two minutes, less than two minutes for the program.

I want to give you the final word.

What do you want to leave Terry and the neighbors with?

What do you want to leave our viewers with?

If the site lists, EPA will lead a comprehensive and transparent investigation of soils and groundwater to identify chemicals of concern or chemicals of concern, and how those chemicals have had impact or will impact the surrounding community.

And I would really emphasize community engagement, community involvement and true transparency.

From our standpoint as a as a lead agency.

That's probably about all we can do for now.

This has been such a devastating tragedy for a decade.

Let's hope for the best.

Thank you so much, Chip, Poalinelli, thank you so much, Terry Cano, for a great interview.

I appreciate both of you for being here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I also want to let both of you know, and our viewers, we're going to continue to follow this story.

I'm going to continue.

I promise this my investigation of the Exide battery plant and the lead contamination cleanup.

We're going to have many more stories on this.

EPA has been gracious talking to us.

We hope to continue that relationship.

Terry, we're going to be talking with you and many of more of the neighbors as we interview all of you.

And I continue to monitor this process.

So, again, thank you both.

Now, for more information about our program, just click on KLCS.org and then click contact Us to send us your questions, your comments, even your story ideas so we can hear from you or you know, you can contact me directly at DavidNazarNews on X or just go to DavidNazarNews on YouTube.

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DavidNazarNews.

That's my channel.

You know, you can contact me there and you know I'll get back with you and be sure to catch our program here on PBS or catch us on the PBS thank you app.

Thank you so much for joining us.

I'm David Nazar